January 07, 2015
Challenged but Unbroken: Sustaining the Colorado River
The Colorado River Basin blankets a 246,000 square mile area that includes parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of the states of Baja and Sonora Mexico.
Water delivered from the Colorado River serves nearly 40 million municipal and industrial customers, 22 Native American tribes and more than 6 million acres of irrigated agriculture. In addition 7 wildlife refuges, four national recreation areas and 11 national parks depend on the river for vital water supplies.
The Colorado River system is stretched to its limit: over allocation, drought, climate change and ever increasing demands mean that actions must be taken now to prevent harmful future shortages. Water managers have been and will continue to work with the US Department of the Interior, the Basin tribes, environmental groups and our neighbors in Mexico to create and implement new solutions for the range of serious challenges facing the Basin.
This beautifully crafted, 9-minute video, written and produced by Central Arizona Project and Studio 522 Productions, Inc, compels all Colorado River water users to take action to ensure the sustainability of this vital resource. Conservation, cooperation and wise water planning are crucial as is continued significant investment in the Basin’s wide range of assets.
Watch this informative video to find out more about the basin.
Recent News
January 07, 2022
WRRC and Partners Engage Rural Leaders About Post-Fire Watershed Recovery
On October 29 and 30, 2021, the WRRC, Gila County Cooperative Extension, and Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership co-convened the After the Fire public meeting to unpack the status and outlook for local watersheds affected by the Telegraph and Mescal Fires.
January 07, 2022
Looking to the Year Ahead
Happy New Year! As our plans for 2022 continue to take shape, here is a selection of what’s on the horizon for the WRRC.
December 17, 2021
A WRRC Retrospective: Looking Back at 2021
As this year comes to a close, we would like to reflect on our work in the context of its unprecedented events. In 2021, the US Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 1 Shortage on the Colorado River—a historic moment that generated international media attention and many requests to the WRRC for comment. As climate change, drought, and water scarcity challenges mounted, public engagement in water conversations became more important than ever.
December 10, 2021
Book of MAR Case Studies Published by UNESCO
UNESCO, an organization within the United Nations, recently published a book on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) that is freely available online. MANAGING AQUIFER RECHARGE: A Showcase for Resilience and Sustainability offers 28 real-life examples of MAR use in collaborative water resources management aimed at improving the quantity and quality of water supplies while buffering against drought and other emergencies.
December 03, 2021
Nurturing Dreams in the Field
APW is back in the classroom and out in the field! After a very long period of only offering online classes, APW presenters have been itching to get their hands dirty and wet. While the number of students might be down, the excitement and fun have only increased.